Automatic switch-signal



(No Model.) y 2 Sheets-'Sheet l. Y

S. GURLIN.

AUTUMATIG SWITCH SIGNAL. No. 381,870. Patented Deo. 8, 1885.

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AUTOMATIC SWITCH SIGNAL.

Patented Dec. 8

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Stains Sl'lli CURL, Gl? SWITCH AED CROSSING Application liled )Toeinbcr 13, i834.

-g part of Letters Patent No. 331,87G, dated December 8, 1885.

Serial No. illicit). (No model.)

To @ZZ ttf/7mm t may concern:

Bc it known that I, Stirn Coi-iran, a citizen of the United States, residing at Covington, in the county ol' Tipton and State of Tennessee, haveini'ented certain ncwand useful Improvements in Automatic Switch-Signals; and l do decla-re the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act desc 'tion ot the invention, suoli as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accoinlmnying drawings, and to the letters and iigures of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

Hy invention relates to railroad-switches and their signals; and the novelty consists in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation ot the several parts i'or automatic action, as will be more l'ully hereinafter set forth, and specilically pointed out in the claims.

The essential object ot' iny invention is to produce, in connection with a switch which is operated automatically by a passing train to open the inain track, a signal which, by the action of the moya-ble switch-rails which t'orin a part ol' the side track when the switch is thrown to complete connection between the inain track and siding, will automatically display a dangersgUal, and which will take in and conceal such danger-signal when theswitch is open by the passing train or otherwise.

To the simplicity, cll'lciency, and comparatively inexpensive inanutncture of my peculiar mechanisms I attach importance.

ller convenience l will illustrate and describe the invention as applied to a single track and siding; but it wili be obvious that the construction would be equally advantageous and Valuable in other relations.

The accompanying tirar-,ings fully illustrate the essential l'catures ol the invention, and forni a part ol` this specification.

Yteler-ring thereto, Figure l is a plan View showing the switch closed and the siding in connection with the. main track. Fig. l is a side elevation ot' the signal apparatus and its connections, with the switch-rails corresponding to il, and showing the several rails in transvcise section, the dangersignal being exposed. Fig. 2 is a pian View corresponding to Fig. il, bat showing the switch and main paratns corresponding to Fig. l, but showing the danger-signal concealed, to denote the condition ot the switch shown in Fig. I 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of the signal and stand, taken at right angles to the position shown by the saine parts in Figs. l and 212 Referring to the drawings, A and A designate the. rails of the inain track, B and B the rails ofthe siding, and C and C the movable switch-rails, pivoted at c to the ends of the rails B B, respectively. The switch-rails C C are rigidly secured to a cross-bar, D, so that they shall at all tintes occupy correct relative positions with each other, and the cross-bar D is connected, as hereinafter described, to a Crank, e, upon a rock-bar, E, journaled in proper boxes, e', along the main track. This rockbar E may be turned in eithcrdirection, to open or close the switclnby any suitable xneans. l have shown a lever, E', for that purpose.

The switch will be openedthat is to say, thrown out ot" contactwith the inain track-by a passing train. To illustrate the point, let it be supposed that trains going in opposite directions are to pass this point. rlhe switch is first thrown to connect the siding with the niain track, as seen in Fi g. l, and the train coining toward the left passes upon the siding and halts or slows until the train coiningtoward the right passes, and the flanges of the wheels striking the switch-rail C will automatically open the switch, and the said train passes along the inain track wit-hout interruption, it being only necessary to slow sutiiciently to allow the switch to be operated without damage.

By the construction oi' the switch I at'oid the necessity of cutting, weakening, or in any way altering the i'orrn ot the inain rails, the switch-rails having peculiarities ol`l`orn1 which are inade the subject ot'a separate application.

Under the condition described the necessity of infallible signaling will be apparent. A

track open. Fig. L. is an elevation of the aptrain coming toward the lel't inust be signaled 95 that the switch is closed or set for siding and the siding occupied, and a train coming to the right must be signaled that the switch is closed or set for siding, and it niust pass the point slowly, in order to open the switch without straining or destroying the parts. -When the switch is open, the main track is perfect, and no necessity for care exists. My invention is designed to secure this infallible system of signaling.

An arm, G, is secured to the bar D at one end, and has its opposite end pivoted to a link, G', which in turn is loosely pivoted to a bellcrank lever, H, pivoted at h to a hollow standard, M', braced as seen at M2, and secured to a base, O, which may be one ofthe cross-ties. To the other arm of this elbow-lever H is pivoted a link, I, and the upper end of this link, at fi, is pivoted to a sheet-metal danger-signal, J, pivoted at k between two plates, K, of corresponding shape and size. This danger-signal J is preferably'painted red and the plates K white, and their relation to each other is such that when the apparatus is at rest and the switch opened or broken (the main track clear) the signal J is concealed in either direction by the plates K. The pivot K is also away from the center, so that the heavier end is away from the track, and the normal position is when the main track is clear, as seen at Fig. 2. The plates K are supported by a shank, M, which fits in a socket in the post M', and is adjustable to take up slack and keep a proper relation of parts by a set-screw, n, as shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the invention is obvious. Vhen the switch is thrown into connection with the main track and the siding is closed, the act which makes that condition automatically sets the danger-signal, and when a passing train again opens the main track the same forces serve to take in and conceal the dangersignal and to declare that the track is clear.

Without confining myself to the exact form and proportion of parts herein shown and described, what I claim as new is-' l. The combination, with the rails A A'BB'- and switch-rails C C', of the bar D, secured to said rails C C', means for moving said bar to close the switch, the signal J, the plates K, the link I, elbow-lever H, and links G G', as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the post M', having socket, two plates, K, having shank M, signal J, and its connections with the switch, of the setscrew n, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SETH CURLlN.

Witnesses:

Jos. FoRREsT, Jos. R. Epson. 

